Ambassador's Spouses Explore Beijing's Time-Honored Brands as Oriental Aesthetics Win Hearts

Following the conclusion of the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women, the Graceful Charm of Golden Autumn – Ambassadors’ Spouses Cultural Experience with Time-Honored Brands was held at Neiliansheng Shoe Shop and REFOSIAN Silk Store, two time-honored brands in Xicheng District of Beijing, on the afternoon of October 16. The event was co-hosted by the BPAFFC and the Xicheng District People’s Government of Beijing Municipality. Ambassadors' spouses from 28 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas gathered at the "China Time-Honored Brands Commercial District" to immerse themselves in Beijing-style culture and experience traditional craftsmanship. The attendees expressed their admiration and enthusiasm for the oriental aesthetics.

Wang Yanxia, Level I Bureau Rank Official of the BPAFFC, attended the event. She introduced that Beijing’s time-honored brands cover diverse categories and are renowned for their long-standing history and deep cultural roots, making them the “calling cards” of Beijing-style culture. She hoped that the guests could experience firsthand these century-long brands and better understand Chinese culture and fine traditional Chinese products.

Rano Arzieva, head of the delegation and spouse of the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to China, described the event as a unique cultural exchange. She spoke of how the time-honored brands told captivating stories of Chinese tradition, artistry, and innovation, leaving a lasting impression on the participants.

Du Hongyue, Deputy District Mayor of Xicheng District, said that Xicheng District, the birthplace of ancient capital Beijing, has nurtured numerous time-honored brands that embody intangible cultural heritage techniques and cultural memories. She hoped that time-honored brands would serve as a bridge attracting more international friends to visit Xicheng District, explore Beijing, and jointly write a magnificent chapter where diverse cultures prosper respectively and together.

At Neiliansheng Shoe Shop, the ambassadors’ spouses were captivated by the exquisite old Beijing cloth shoes, particularly the colorful and intricately embroidered patterns. The trendy cloth shoes designed to cater to modern consumer preferences also received high praise. The participants visited an exhibition highlighting the century-long development of Neiliansheng Shoe Shop, watched an intangible cultural heritage master demonstrate the intricate process of crafting the brand's signature "thousand-layer sole" cloth shoes, and experienced traditional techniques and specialty products from brands such as Zhangyiyuan (tea shop) and Tianhuizhai (snuff shop).

Hoang Huong Giang, spouse of the Ambassador of Vietnam to China, took part in making the “thousand-layer sole” cloth shoes, marveling at the intricacy of making a sole with 35 layers. The ambassadors’ spouses from Jordan, Belgium, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo purchased handmade cloth shoes at the store as gifts to their friends and family. They expressed hope to bring the practice of cultural heritage preservation back to their own countries.

At REFOSIAN Silk Store, the ambassadors’ spouses learned about the history of Chinese silk and immersed themselves in the craftsmanship of handmade knotted buttons for Beijing-style qipaos. From threading the needle to shaping and fixing, they carried out each step with great care when making knotted buttons shaped like the goldfish that symbolize prosperity and good fortune. Their dedication and craftsmanship were also admirable. The participants also tried on traditional Chinese attire such as qipaos and horse-face skirts, posed for photos in classical garden settings, and enjoyed Beijing-style jasmine tea, Huguosi snacks, and specialty accessories from Caishikou Department Store.

Helen, the spouse of the Ambassador of East Timor to China, commented that knotted buttons and floral patterns on traditional Chinese attires are manifestations of Chinese culture and serve as a great vehicle to understand China and enhance cultural exchanges and friendship.

Helen, the spouse of the Ambassador of East Timor to China, commented that knotted buttons and floral patterns on traditional Chinese attires are manifestations of Chinese culture and serve as a great vehicle to understand China and enhance cultural exchanges and friendship.

This event was a showcase of time-honored brands in Xicheng District. The district also designed exclusive experience cards for the ambassadors’ spouses to explore superb traditional Chinese products at ten time-honored consumer brands, including Quanjude, Yidege, and Xiangyihao. Guo Jie, Deputy District Mayor of Xicheng District, presented the cards as gifts to the ambassadors’ spouses.

The Graceful Charm of Golden Autumn – Ambassadors’ Spouses Cultural Experience with Time-Honored Brands was the second cultural event hosted by the BPAFFC with the delegation of ambassadors’ spouses. It offered an important opportunity for ambassadors’ spouses to understand and integrate into Beijing and learn about Chinese culture, enabling women from different countries to together celebrate harmony in diversity. In the future, the BPAFFC will continue to hold a series of activities and organize ambassadors’ spouses to visit time-honored stores, experience high-quality traditional Chinese products, and tell them more stories about Beijing and China.